ADOLESCENT FRIENDSHIP NETWORKS - CONTINUITY AND CHANGE OVER THE SCHOOL YEAR

Continuity and change were assessed at multiple levels of adolescent f riendship networks over the school year. Middle and high school studen ts from two school systems nominated their close friends in fall and s pring. Using these nominations students were classified into five netw ork roles: clique members, loose group members, dyad members, isolates , and remainders. There was moderate stability and continuity at all l evels of adolescent networks. The fall best friend is very likely to b e a close friend, if not still the best friend in spring. Half of all close friendships are stable over the school year. Friendship groups, especially cliques, are also quite stable. Many adolescents also retai n their pattern of connections, especially if they have a dense networ k. Stability at one level does not necessarily co-occur with stability at other levels of the network. Friendship networks become more stabl e with grade. Results differ little with gender or school.